Chi-Tou Lao is currently a first-year Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) student in Piano Performance at Western University, studying with Dr. Kyung Kim. He previously earned his Master of Music at the Peabody Conservatory, where he worked with Professors Yoshikazu Nagai and HieYon Choi. During his time at Peabody, Lao focused primarily on German composers such as Bach, Beethoven, Schubert, and Schumann, reflecting his deep interest in the German musical tradition. As an aspiring musician, he strives to discover and refine his own artistic voice.
Lao completed his undergraduate studies at Wright State University, studying under the tutelage of Dr. Jackson Leung. As an international student from Macao, he received scholarships from the Cultural Affairs Bureau of Macau and the WSU School of Music. Lao has participated in several competitions and received various awards, including being recognized in the WSU Concerto-Aria Night Competition (2019) and receiving the Ohio Federation of Music Clubs Agnes Fowler Scholarship Award (2019). In January 2020, he won first prize in the Collegiate Division of the New Albany Symphony Concerto Competition, which led to a performance in a subscription concert of the orchestra in March 2020. Lao also won first prize in the Collegiate Solo Division of the OMTA Graves Piano Competition in Columbus, Ohio (2020). In service to the university and the department, Lao has performed at events such as the CoLA Donor Reception, Provost Search Receptions, and ArtsGala. He was also the pianist for the Wind Symphony and Chamber Orchestra.
Throughout his years of study, Lao has participated in numerous masterclasses with artists such as Dang Thai Son, Richard Goode, Steven Osbourne, Stanislav Khristenko, Misha Dichter, Alan Chow, Kuok-Wai Lio, Michael Chertock, Jeffrey Cohen, Laura Melton, and the Balourdet Quartet.
In his spare time, Chi-Tou Lao enjoys cooking and jogging.
Watch Chi-Tou Lao perform The Piano Sonata No. 1 in F♯ Minor, Op. 11 by Robert Schumann on the piano for the 2025 Spring Music Competition as part of the Charleston International Music Competition.